Scenes from 2013 Raspberry Days

RHS Graduates May Not Get Scholarships

Disadvantages Faced by Rich High Students Trying To Earn University Academic Scholarships

Chris Coray, Ph.D., Mathematics,
Emeritus Professor, Utah State University

RE:  Rich School's choice of non-honors math curriculum core:

Having spent parts of my 35 year academic career in selecting students for academic scholarships at Utah State University I wish to point out a reason why students in this district are at a disadvantage in earning such scholarships at USU and other schools.

In awarding academic scholarships it was and continues to be very hard to choose the strongest students based on high school GPA.  It is not possible for scholarship evaluators to identify the strength of academic programs at all the high schools from which the students come.  Hence, a far more valuable tool for evaluators to use is the score received on national tests.  In Utah most college bound students take the ACT, but the SAT exam is completely acceptable.   One of the sections in both exams is mathematics.  There is no calculus on the ACT or the SAT but college algebra and trigonometry are on both. 

With the new standard “common core” mathematics curriculum in place, and if students do not have an alternate honors mathematics sequence opportunity then at the end of common core (junior year) they will not have covered some of the material examined by the ACT.  On the other hand, those completing an honors common core math sequence (not available at Rich) will have covered all the material contained in the ACT (and be calculus ready).  The national testing dates for the ACT this year are in September, October, December, and later times beginning in February.  But applications for scholarships are generally due in February or early March.  Thus a student here who takes the ACT as a junior or even as a beginning senior enrolled in concurrent enrollment college algebra/trigonometry will not at the time of the test have encountered or had time to master some of the math material contained in the ACT. 

This means that in general students without the appropriate course work opportunity will not do as well on the ACT as their counterparts who have had extra training.  Earning academic scholarships is hard enough without problems that come from lack of opportunity. 

Additionally, in many cases even admission to some universities requires a high ACT score.  For example, the average ACT composite score for freshmen admitted to BYU in 2012 was 28.4 (perfect is 36).  It is very difficult to be admitted to BYU with an ACT composite lower than 26.  If students seek academic scholarships to strong schools (or in some cases, just admission) high ACT scores are essential.  Rich High School should add an honors math core sequence to its curriculum to provide students equal opportunity for academic scholarships or admission.

 

Bear Lake Sunrise, Photo by Elvira Luczake

Why A Gun Club In Our Backyard?

Donna Severeson, Past President of Sweetwater Trailer Camper Park

 

For twenty years we have come every summer to enjoy the peace and quiet at our place in Sweetwater Trailer Camper Park. We see deer coming and going morning and evening, grouse and sage hens visit my lawn and garden throughout the summer and we enjoy listening  to the many birds sing their lovely songs. The traffic at this end of the lake is very light except on weekends.  It has been a bit of heaven for us all these years.

During those twenty years, we have worked with the community and enjoyed the people here in the area. Several years ago, when the EMTs needed to outfit their new emergency vehicle, the people of Sweetwater raised funds to help them.  Many of us have volunteered at community and church activities.  We support local business and bring money to the community.

However, now that Garden City and Rich County have seen fit to build a gun club just over the small rise from us, all of that peace and quiet will be gone. The animals will leave and the bird songs will come to an end.  All we will hear is the sound of weapons firing. The traffic will increase on the proposed road just behind our southern border.  In dry weather, the dust will be thick in the air. Our quiet peaceful life will come to a screeching end and we will have to think about moving elsewhere.

At our recent home owner’s meeting, we took a show of hands vote.  As predicted the gun owners voted yes and those who enjoy their peace and quiet voted no. The vote that most owners wanted the gun club is wrong.  The vote was only 50/50. Many owners who were not at the meeting have called to voice their objections. We haven’t heard from one gun owners because they figure it’s a done deal. As it probably is.

With all the open land around this area, why did they choose our backyard?  We are really sorry that Rich County and Garden City think so little of the 421 owners who live here in the summer (some all year round).  It would seem that the local governments only want our money and not our friendship.  It seems that they feel that we are just summer people and don’t really count for much.

Again I ask, why in our backyard?  

 

Letters To The Editor

Re: Re: Gun Range:

The comment  that “Rich County and Garden City only want our money anyway” is absurd, The gun range is intended like the parks, bike path, library, swimming pools, restroom facilities, new parking lot and fishing pond to improve the lives of families who live and recreate here.  The gun range was in response to a large number of calls to the city from people asking where they can shoot.  Many people  practice their shooting near the area we have proposed so making it safer is benefit for all. Gun education is critical and a well designed location just makes sense. I would say 2^nd amendment advocates and there are many in the Bear lake valley want a safe family area to shoot.  We will be doing testing using decibel meters and engineer the facility to mitigate noise.  Finally I appreciate volunteers like you doing your best to report what is going on here.  It is amazing how critical people can be when we have so many fine volunteers doing so much to improve the lives of others. - John Spuhler, Mayor, Garden City.

 

Letters To The Editor

Re:  Article on Gun Range

"Apparently whomever gave you the information on the straw vote at our recent meeting was at a different meeting them I the President was at. The vote was not in favor of the gun range. In fact it was 50/50 for and against the gun range. As usual we are being sold down the river by Rich County and Garden City who only want our money anyway. Mr. White ran a test on gun firring but did not inform anyone it was going on and therefore as it was in the middle of the week and no one knew about it, there was no report about the sound of gun shots. I cannot believe that you reported it as you did without checking any facts. I guess we know who's side you are on."

Re: Article On Math Education At RHS

"Perhaps if the Rich County School District put as much time, effort, and MONEY into academics as it does into sports, the children of RIch County would not find themselves at an academic disadvantage when they graduate. I realize sports is fun for all, but at the end of the school experience I'm not sure if playing sports is what will carry them through the future's economic environment. School resources should go toward preparing our children for the future. Sports can still be funded by the families who participate. Sports activities should not be the burden of the taxpayers."

Re: Tony Grove

Our friend, Sandy, reminds us that it is Tony Grove not Tony's Grove...it was called Tony as in posh or stylish not after some un-named Tony.  Be sure to hike up at least once this summer, the wildflowers are fantastic.

Forty-one New Youth and Children's Books At Library

Mr. Harold Smith, a friend of the Garden City Library, brought his grandchildren in last month to bestow a generous donation of 41 new youth and children’s books to the Library.  This wonderful donation was provided by Worldwide Libraries in Orem, Utah, where a friend of Mr. Smith, Jim Jacobs, is a director. 

The Library staff wishes to thank Mr. Smith for sharing the asset the Garden City Library is to the community and guests of Garden City.

We appreciate Mr. Jacobs and Worldwide Libraries for their help in building our offerings to those we serve.

Cathie Rasmussen

Garden City Library Director

Garden City Library

PO Box 348

Garden City, UT  84028

Ph# (435) 946-2950

librarydirector@cut.net